Fire-protector for moving-picture-machine magazines.



H. B. CUNNINGHAM. FIRE PROTECTOR FOR MOVING PICTURE MACHINE MAGAZI 1,090,287.

NBS. Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. //%l [Jer- H. B. CUNNINGHAM. FIRE PROTECTOR FOR MOVING PICTURE MACHINE MAG APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1911. 1,090,287.

AZINES.

Patented Mar. 17,1914.

2 shun-sum 2.

ll/linesses NIT D STATES PATENT. onn on.

HABVY BARRE CUNNINGHAM, or srr. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

rmn-rno'rncron FOR MOVING-PICTURE-MACHINE MneAzINns.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARVY BARRE CUN- NINGIIAMI, a citizen of. the United States,

' I tion of flame to the interior of the film magazines.

I attain the general objects stated by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, shows the attachment of the device to moving picture machine magazines; Fig. 2, a bottom view of the device; Fig. 3, a part of a moving picture machine, showing the attachment and position of the combustible fuse; Fig. 4 is a side view of a moving picture machine showing the attachment in place on the magazines.

Similar letters on the drawing refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, j represents a support comprising a rectangular frame-piece or casing which is adapted to be attached to a'filmmagazine Q across the opening through which the film enters or makes its exit, as the case may be. This fra1ne-piece has mounted therein, so as to flank the transverse axis, of one face of the same, a pair of guide rollers c, and the side walls adjacent the opposite face are provided with longitudinal guideways' in which a pair of shear blades g are slidably mounted. These blades are adapted to be moved toward each other so that their cutting edges overlap,'thus shearing the film which passes between them when they are in their inoperative or normal positions. In addition to severing the film, the blades provide the additional function of serving to completely close the opening into the magazine, in this manner effectually cutting oflf the communication of flame to the interior of the magazine.

The shear blades or knives g are provided at the ends opposite the cutting edges with laterally bent portions which serve as handlemembers whereby. the blades can be 0p erated manually. The blades can also be operated automatically'by means of the spring (1 which is coiled about the stud 5, supported on the bracket which projects from one side of the casing 7'. The coiled portion of the spring (1 is heldclamped between washers p by means of an ordinary nut on the end ofthe stud i. v

Aflixed to each shear blade by means of a nut o is a stud f. These studs are engaged by the extended endsof the spring 03. The ends of the spring 03 and consequently the shear blades, are normally held apart by the engagement therewith of a pair of detentarms a which are pivoted to the casing one on either side of the bracket it. One end of each arm extends from the casing and alongside the magazine and has attached thereto a branch of a combustible cord or fuse 6. This member, which may be combustible or fusible throughout its length, or only be- Patented Mar. 17,1914.

- Application filed July 31, 1911. Serial No. 641,687. v

tween eye 6 and post 70, as-shown m Fig. 3,

is passed through an eye I) on the side of arms, so that, when the cord is drawn taut, the corresponding ends of the arms are held together, thus holding the opposite ends of the arms, and consequently the spring ends and the shear blades, apart.

In ordinary practice, this combustible cord is led from each magazine through another eye I) on the body or standard at of the machine and thence across the standard and closely adjacent the aperture and film guide plate m to a stud on post 70 to which it is attached. It will be seen that, should the film strip become ignited, that portion of the combustible cord 6, because of its proximity to the film in its travel over the guide plate on, will at once ignite and be destroyed and the detent arms a, being no longer restrained, will allow the extended ends of the s ring (1 to immediatel actuate the shear b ades g to sever the 1m and close the openin to the magazine, thus cutting ofi the possibility of the communication of fire to the roll of film inside the magazine-and confining the damage to the comparatively short length of film which extends from one magazine to the other.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A safety device for motion picture machines comprising a rectangular frame-piece provided with rectangular guideways, an

.80 the magazine ust beyond the ends of the" .opening through the center of said framepiece, cutting blades mounted to slide in said 4 guideways;,'a spring, engaging said cutting blades and tending idlmdve them toward 5 each other to coye rfsai'd openin and to cause their cutting edges to over ap, combustible means normallyholding said blades in retracted. positions, said fr'ame piece be- I ing adaptedv for. attachment to a, film maga- 0 zine with the-opening therein in alinement with the-opening in the magazine through which the film passes, whereby, upon the accidental ignition of said combustible means, said spring actuates said blades to sever the film and cover said opening substantially as described." a L" 2. Anatt j chment for motion picture machine magazines comprising a support, a pair of rollers mounted in said support and adapted to guide b tween them the film strip as it issues from the magazine, spring actuating flat shear blades slidably mounted in said support and tending to sever the film strip as it passes between said rollers and to cut olf -the communication of fire to the inte'rior ofthe magazine, an inflammable cord nornrally holding said blades inoperative, said ficord being arranged so that a portion tofthegsame lies in proximity to the apertureofathe projecting lantern, whereby, upon the ignitlionlof the film as it passes said aperture','th';e adjacent cord will be severed to release the shear blades substantially as described-fe- 3. In combination with the film aperture .of a motion picture machine magazine, a rectangular casing with an opening in one face adapted to be placed in alinement with said-aperture, slidable'plates with shearing 40 edges forming the opposite face of said casing, grooves in which said plates are slidably mounted, a bracket on one side'of said casing, a post on the free end of said bracket, a spring mounted on said post so as to en gage with its end. port ons said slidable plates, said spring tend ng to move said plates to cover said openlng, detent ar ms pivoted intermediate their ends to the slde of said casing which supports said bracket, one end of each arm adapted to engage an end portion of said spring, an inflammable cord attached to the opposite ends of said arms, said cord adapted to hold said arms in their spring retracting positions so that said openin is normally uncovered. v

4, In'com ination with the film aperture of a motion picture machine magazine, a casing provided with an opening in one face adapted to be placed in alinement with said aperture, slidable shear plates with laterally bent portions forming the opposite face of said casing, a bracket attached to one side of said casing, a'post on the free end of said bracket, a spring mounted on said post for engagement with said shear plates, said spring tending to move said plates to cover said opening and sever the film passing therethrough, detent arms pivoted to said casing and engaging saidspring, a combustible cord engaging said arms to hold them in their spring retracting positions, whereby, upon combustion of the cord, or upon manual actuation of said'laterally bent end portions, said shear plates. Willbe moved to cover said opening and sever the film.

HARVY BARRE OUNN IN GHAM.

Copies ofthll patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G." 

